The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-10-19
3.NDE5cN OLD MAIDS.
::n,- are 5oi:y and Good-Satured, and
Cress in Exquisite Taste.

..ceor,i:...g to the idea Of things which
arovalla.. not so very long ago, the wo-
nam who did not marry was 4 blightcd
Gc;nm. Il did not matter whether she
rrlna;nc,; s:nmic from choice or neces-
ST; for since i. WAS considered (: wo-
mans u&!v manifcSt and uaaltera bic
destiny % marry, she must OF course. be
regarded IS . failure in life ii she did
10. 30 ri.;s. Aud though she may have
r2susut forty offers CT marriage, or have
had The most imperative duties Of any
sort. or developed the most decided tai
en- tor some vocation in life other than
marriage Yet neither one nor al OF these
wu:l.d have been accepted rs valid
reason WY she Should not follow what
society had decided was the Only proper
coarse III lie for her.
i.Ym tits condition Of things there
arus: N literature and minds OF the peo-
ri. IN general the typical ''o!d maid
81. was always pictured as gaunt,
:,lgular. and forbidd:ng in appearance:
.:yrosc and ill-tcmpered in disposition,
as became 4 blishted and disappointed
being; hitting youth and pleasure OF I'll
SORTS. with special grudso against
i,,re:uakinr and lovers, since they re-
mi! K Aer of her own vanished youth
and the opportunities which she never
a:.&!, or, having. had neglected.
But we have changed all that in these
..:.:"r DAYS. With the education OF wo-
n. n AMI the broadening of their oppor-
ian:;ics in every way their destinies have
;,roade1ed also. A woman is still, per-
aaps, expected first to marry, and it is
.,cs; COR i.,.i. hat she should, provided
:.ec marriage can be a happy and suita-
be one. Bat if from her own choice,
or Il necessity arising from = lack Of APP
probation on the part of the other and
more stupid sex, she remains at the end
of her DAYS what someone calls an cum
chained blessing" she is no longer con-
s.;:erad, from this circumstance alone,
a failure and IN unhappy creature. She
IS no longer doomed to q life OF depen-
,Innco in TIE house Of another, for q
score OF vocations are open TO her, III
any cnc OF which she may win l.Tei!-
;lood or even competence. Consequent
" sac commands respect, and, far from
6cing subject Of contempt or pity, she
IS :nore likely the object OF open or Sc
ere: envy on the part OF most OF her
married acquaintanceS.
And so ii has come about that the
typical Old maid of former times has
passed away. and in the literature OF to-
day we lind new types conforming TO
Tic new iac:s OF the case and quite dill
t.rpnt from the Old The modern old
maid is not angular and forbidding in
! appearance. but plump and pleasing.
.5i. is 10; morcse and ill-tempered, but
io.lv and good-natured to an extent that
makes her the best OF comp ..iy. as
she has meyer haG the absorbing cares
,nat come with marriage, and has no
! ...ni!r OF sons and daughters growing
! ,:n :: boat her to remind her Of the flight
i. cars, size has naturally forgotten 10
s.,,v cid, and young people regard her
=, one OF themselves when good times
;,r. Jelng planned; while in the matter
q: overs and love making she has had
::5:.t oysar!cncc which makes her simply
.f~#:r;&bie rs contidante and adviser,
.aA she IS tho repository Of all the Sc
cr2ss of This sort which exist within the
...nee of he: acquaintance. She dresses
!! exqnis:te taste, she pets . pug dog or
:. White cat. golden beetle, or what
cv2r an::na! fashion may dictate; Is
i.:yiizcl b. her family; especially her
oung nephews; has hosts of admirers,
a..t i; discretion and proprioty pcrsoni-
! i;aa; is tnc guiding spirit in orphan
;.sy!ums. hospital fairs. associated
c.!ar!ly matters, and other good works,
:1d. in Short, lives ont TO the end q her
,.;,ys = happy, useful, wcll-rounded ex-
is,..ncc. ..t:WQNNee IcIelr0VN.